Some happy returns for HBO, Fox

Looks as if the HBO groundhog saw its shadow, because winter is still coming on “Game of Thrones,” which Tuesday received a not-unexpected pickup for Season 3, just nine days after its second-season premiere attracted a series-high 3.9 million viewers.

Altogether, that episode “has already accumulated a gross audience of 8.3 million viewers, and is on track to easily surpass the season one average of 9.3 million viewers,” according to HBO.

The cast and crew of the sprawling drama based on the epic fantasy series of novels by George R.R. Martin aren’t the only ones with something to celebrate.

Fox late Monday announced early renewals for “New Girl,” “Glee” and “Raising Hope,” putting three more shows in the safe zone before the May upfronts, when the fall schedules are unveiled to advertisers.